Master of Counselling

Students wishing to enrol in the MCouns must have qualified for one of the following:

• a degree from Aotearoa New Zealand with either acquired experience in counselling, teaching, nursing, social work, or an equivalent profession, or been deemed suitable for training as a counsellor; or
• other approved qualifications of an equivalent standard.

If English is your additional language, you are also required to meet UC's English language requirements.

Selection will be based on academic attainment and other criteria, which will include an interview for admission to the professional counselling practice course (COUN 675 Professional Counselling Practice I). The relevance and standard of previous studies and any subsequent professional work experience are the main criteria of approval. Students will normally be expected to have at least a B Grade Point Average in their 300-level courses. Students must also be vetted by police.

To apply, students will need to complete an application form – see 'How to Apply' below.

For the full entry requirements, see the Regulations for the Master of Counselling or use the admission requirements checker.

How to apply

Entry to the Counselling programme is limited – applications close 1 October.

See the Counselling application process for details of entry requirements, application forms, and start dates.

Find out more about how to apply for graduate and postgraduate qualifications.

Part I

• COUN 671 Counselling and Psychology: Theories and Skills
• COUN 672 Counselling Supervision and Reflective Practice
• COUN 675 Professional Counselling Practice I
• COUN 681 Solution-Focused Theory and Practice with Individuals and Groups

Note that COUN 672 and COUN 675 are limited entry courses.

Students will normally need to have achieved Part I with a B Grade Point Average or better to proceed onto Part II.

Part II

• COUN 685 Professional Counselling Practice II

If studying part-time, students will instead complete COUN 683 Professional Counselling Practice II (Part A) Part time and COUN 684 Professional Counselling Practice II (Part B) Part time.

All students also choose between completing COUN 695 Counselling Dissertation (60 points), or at least 60 points of courses chosen from:

• HLTH 430 Motivating Behaviour Change I (30 points)
• HLTH 431 Motivating Behaviour Change II (30 points)
• HLTH 448 The Foundation of Hospice Palliative Care (30 points)
• HLTH 463 Whānau and Community Health (30 points)
• HLTH 467 Mental Health and Addictions (30 points)
• HLTH 469 Health Issues in the Community (30 points)
• COUN 682 Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT) (15 points)
• CFPY 601 Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence (30 points)
• CFPY 602 Child and Adolescent Development: Research, Contexts, and Applications (30 points)
• CFPY 603 Introduction to Interventions (30 points)
• EDEM 608 Understanding Emotions in Education, Leadership, and Health (30 points)
• SOWK 612 Mana Motuhake, a Bicultural Analysis (15 points)
• CULT 419 The Policies and Politics of Sex (30 points)

Research Methods course

In either Part I or II, you will also need to complete one of:

• EDEM 693 Introduction to Methodologies and Ethics in Educational Research
• EDEM 697 Qualitative Research in Education, Health, and Human Development
• EDEM 698 Emergent Research Methodologies
• Another approved research methods course of at least 15 points

Useful information:

• Read what other UC postgraduate students have gone on to achieve in their studies and careers in our student and graduate profiles.
• Te Rōpū Rapuara | UC Careers can help you to achieve the career you want, connect with employers, or find a job.
• For research into career destinations by qualification, visit Te Pōkai Tara | Universities New Zealand website.
• Find out more about what you can do with a degree from UC.
• Come along to an upcoming information event for prospective postgraduate students.